DILIGENT IN HIS BUISINESS - Proverbs 22:29
Proverbs 22:29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
God expects you to be diligent. If you are diligent, HE will reward you. In 2 Peter 1:4-7, we are told about eight precious promises that you can obtain. The eight precious promises are faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. However, you do not get these precious promises by being the fastest athlete, the smartest student, or by being the most beautiful baby. These precious promises are obtained by being diligent.
God told Noah to build a boat so that he and his family might be spared the destruction. Noah diligently labored with his family to build the boat. It was the diligence of Noah that spared his family. Noah could have believed God all he wanted, but until he put some diligence to his faith, he had nothing.
Scripture tells us that Ruth was a virtuous woman. However, we must remember that Ruth first was seen in the field diligently gathering that which was dropped before she found favor in the eyes of Boaz.
Solomon is known as the wisest individual who ever lived. However, before he received such great knowledge, we see that he was diligent in making sure that his heart was right before God.
God told Jeremiah to give wine to the house of the Rechabites. These men refused the wine because they were obeying the instruction of their father. The Rechabites were diligent in their labors and they were faithful in their obedience and God spared then when the enemy came and plundered the land.
Simeon had been told of God that he would see the Son of God before he died. Simeon had to be patient and wait upon the timing of God. However, while Simeon waited, he was diligent to serve the Lord.
Paul was a godly man who went out and preached the gospel and helped many churches to form. However, we know that before God called Paul, Saul was a diligent man who persecuted the Christians that he despised. The diligence of Saul was one reason he was called.
Joseph was a man who loved his family and he was quick to forgive them for the evil that they had done to him. The important thing that we see from the life of Joseph is not only how he showed brotherly kindness to those who did him wrong, but that he was always diligent no matter where God put him. There were probably days that Joseph would have loved to do evil to his brothers, but he always desired to do what was right in the eyes of God.
John is known as the disciple that Jesus loved. The subject of love is very prominent in the books that John wrote. However, before Jesus called John to be his disciple, we see that John was diligent working as a fisherman.
The great men and women of the bible were used mightily of the Lord. If you study their lives, you see that they were not lazy individuals but that they were diligent. You need to follow their example and be diligent in adding knowledge of the ways of God to your life so that you might add the character that God desires to see in you and so that HE might use you in a mighty way.